FM Dimitrov: Our duty is to come to a solution that will enable the PMs to meet and shake hands

Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov considers  the meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias and UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, which to take place Saturday in Sounio, as rather significant, MIA reports from Athens.

‘It is a fact that we have entered the most delicate phase. Tomorrow is a day of great significance, as the meeting is taking place only few days before the (EU-Western Balkans) summit in Sofia. Hence it is our duty to come to a solution that will meet as much as possible the needs of both countries and enable the Prime Ministers to meet and after that to shake hands. However, we, the FMs, must offer some options and that’s our task for tomorrow,’ Dimitrov said.

A success in settling the name issue is of paramount importance for Macedonia’s future, Dimitrov said.

Speaking about tomorrow’s new round of name talks, Dimitrov mentioned the recent celebration of the Europe Day and the Schuman Declaration.

‘It would be good for us in the Balkans to utilize the European process – to reconcile and solve our problems,’ Dimitrov said.

Dimitrov, on an invitation of his Greek colleague Kotzias, took part Friday in the second meeting of Balkan and Visegrad FMs, which takes place in Sounio near Athens.

Besides the standard format that includes the four EU member-states from the Balkans – Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania, plus Slovenia – this year’s meeting also brought together the EU candidates Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, plus Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Visegrad Group (V4) was represented by Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

On the event’s sidelines, Dimitrov held talks with colleagues from V4, namely Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.